Device for removing armor from cables or the like

ABSTRACT

A device for removing armor from wire and cable comprising a pair of hingedly mounted cylindrical sections for receiving between them when separated an armor covered cable and when closed surrounding the cable, and including armor removal members, one on each cylindrical section, to remove or replace the armor from around the cable as the device is moved along and about the axis of the cable.

United States Patent 1 m1 3,744,230 Santistevan 1 July 10, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR REMOVING ARMOR FROM 1,345,375 7/1920 Lemay 57/23 X CABLES OR THE LIKE 2,216,189 10/1940 Ennis 57/3.5

Filed:

lnventor: Joe A. Santistevan, Springer, N.

Mex.

Assigneez Clete Brewer Tool Company,

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Dec. 27, 1971 Appl. Nos 212,211

US. Cl 57/2.3, 57/1 U, 81/9.5 R Int. Cl H02g 1/12 Field of Search 57/1 R, 1 U, 2.3,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1925 McCray 57/23 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Warren F. B. Lindsley [57] ABSTRACT A device for removing armor from wire and cable comprising a pair of hingedly mounted cylindrical sections for receiving between them when separated an armor covered cable and when closed surrounding the cable, and including armor removal members, one on each cylindrical section, to remove or replace the armor from around the cable as the device is moved along and about the axis of the cable.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIED JUL 0 INVENTOR. JOE A. SANTISTEVAN ATTORNEY DEVICE FOR REMOVING ARMOR FROM CABLES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cable stripping tools and more particularly to apparatus for removing armor from an elongated wire or cable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION It has long been a problem to the line and repairman to remove heavy armor from about large size wires and cables. The problem is compounded when the repairman has to work on pole mounted high tension lines while he is standing on the ground. This is particularly true if the wires are hot, i.e. current carrying conductors and thereby extremely hazardous to life.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Tools are known which cut and remove insulation from wires and cables, and some provide this function as the tool is rotated along and about the axis of the cable. One known tool is designed to slip over the free end of the cable to remove the insulation therefrom and can function only if a free end of the cable is available.

There is no known tool or apparatus for clamping onto a line or cable between its ends and removing the armor therefrom regardless of whether it is energized or not. Up until now, armor removal has been accomplished on de-energized cables or conductors by using a screwdriver or some other such instrument, and unless the repairman is careful the wires and cables can be easily damaged by this method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disclosed tool, device or apparatus of the present invention alleviates the problem of the prior art by enabling a line and repairman to remove preformed armor such as wrap-lock ties, patch rod, splices, deadends or any other preformed protective material helically surrounding an elongated conductor such as wire, cable, rod or the like.

The invention particularly provides a clamping means which surrounds and engages a workpiece, such as a cable, for movement around and along the axis thereof. A blade or blades are attached to and from a part of the clamping means and are brought into contact with armor wrapped about the cable to remove or replace the armor as the clamping means is moved to a prescribed manner.

The disclosed device is particularly adaptable for operating on a variety of cable sizes by employing replaceable cable engaging cylindrical sections for surrounding the cable. Additionally, the cylindrical sections are the only part of the device which comes into contact with the cable.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a lightweight and economically manufacturable tool for removing armor from an elongated cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an armor removing device or apparatus for mounting around a cable that can be operated at a distance from the cable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for removing armor wrapped around a cable which can be quickly and easily applied to and removed from the cable without requiring assembly or disassembly of a device for removing armor from a cable employing replacable parts which permit the device to be used on any size cable.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device for removing armor from a cable in which all parts of the device are replaceable.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out in particularlity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be more readily described and understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device constructed according to a teaching of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device positioned about a workpiece having a portion of the armor removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one section of the structure shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 44 showing particulars of the hinging structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIGS. 1 through 4 disclose a device 10 for removing armor 12, such as a plurality of plastic strippings or steel rods 12' wound around a cable 14. The device comprises a pair of hingedly arranged cooperating clamp sections 13, 13' having arms 16, 16', respectively, pivotally fastened together by a suitable hinge means 18. The outer ends of arms l6, 16 define ring-shaped openings or eyelets l7, 17 for receiving the hooked end of rods hereinafter explained. Each clamp section comprises an arcuate formed edge at its cooperating free end for forming a jaw-like structure surrounding the circumference of a cable.

When device 10 is in closed position, so as to enclose cable 14 as shown in FIG. 2, arms 16, 16' extend in a coplanar arrangement substantially perpendicular to the axis of an opening 19 formed by the arcuate ends of clamp sections 13, 13' for receiving cable 14. In order to provide an opening for various size cables, the arcuate edges 20, 20' of clamp section 13, 13' are provided with removable replaceable arcuate shaped inserts 22, 22, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, inserts 22, 22' are easily replaceable in that they are attached to arcuate edges 20, 20' by bolts 24, 24', respectively, which thread through arcuate edges 20, 20 into threaded openings 26, 26' in inserts 22, 22'. This replacement capability of the inserts makes it possible to fit device 10 to any cable size by merely changing the insert to fit snugly around a cable of a predetermined size.

It will be noted that inserts 22, 22' have as a part thereof substantially triangularly shaped webs or blades 28, 28'. In the preferred embodiment, these blades are detachably mounted so that they may be replaced as necessary. By reference to FIG. 2 it can be seen that blades 28, 28' are attached to the device such that they extend longitudinally to the axis of the opening 19 formed by the cooperating inserts 22, 22' and cable 14 when the device is attached to the cable. Further, it should be noted that the inserts 22, 22' are the only portions of the device which come into contact with cable 12. That is, while clamp 13 13 serves to guide the device smoothly along the cable, blades 28, 28' have their points 29, 29 in contact with the armor. Thus, clamp 13, 31 circumvents the cable without touching its surface while removing the directing the armor angularly and upwardly away from the cable by passing the armor over the device.

The device also includes a locking means or latch 32 attached to and forming a portion of the arms 16, 16. The latch, located on the opposite'side of the arms 16, 16' from hinge 18, is utilized to hold the clamp 13, 13 in a closed position when the clamp is placed around the cable. Though any suitable latch may be used, a sliding spring loaded mechanism is provided comprising a spring biased shaft 36 (spring not shown) having an integral handle 34, as illustrated. Shaft 36 is camfered at 38 so that it will easily engage and disengage with a recess opening or aperture 40 in catch 32a of the latch. To release the latch, arm 34 need merely be pulled away from aperture 40 (FIG. 2) to remove shaft 36 from catch 32a.

When utilizing the device on a de-energized conductor or cable, the device may be easily operated by hand. However, in its most advantageous usage, it is frequently desirable to apply the device to a current carrying conductor, such as a hot power line. This application may be accomplished with complete safety to the repairman by utilizing a pole-like tool or the like as shown in FIG. 2. Such a tool, commonly referred to as a hot-stick, will normally include an elongated pole 41 constructed of wood or any suitable insulating material having a hook 42 secured to one end of the pole and adapted for insertion in eyes 17, 17' of arm 16, 16'.

When applying the device to a hot-line, the device is hinged open so that the cable can be inserted in the clamp. Hook 42 is then inserted through one of the eyes 17, 17 and the device is raised over the cable with the clamp and its opening 19 passing around the cable such that the weight of the arm opposite the hook will cause the arm to fall under the action of gravity, latching the device closed with latch 32. If desired the latch can be closed by using two poles 41, one connected to each arm, to close the device. When this is accomplished, one pole is utilized to turn the device and pull it axially along the cable into contact with the armor 12. Then this pole is connected to the opposite eye 17' and utilized to partially rotate device 10 further and along the cable, thus removing or stripping off a substantial portion of the armor. To continue removing the armor, the pole is alternately moved from one of the eyes to the other, with the repairman partially rotating the device about the line while pulling the blades 28, 28 into the armor.

It can readily be seen that the device can be used by two repairmen to expeditiously remove the armor where they each alternately use a different pole to partially rotate the device about the line.

To remove the device from the line, the repairman, using the pole, pushes the handle 34 in the prescribed manner against the bias of the spring associated with shaft 36, which causes latch 32 to disengage from catch 32a to release arms 16, 16', causing device 10 to swing open and clear the cable.

While there have been shown, described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim: l. A device for stripping helically wound wires forming an armor covering for cables or the like, said device comprising: I

a pair of hingedly connected arms each having an arcuate shaped edge which cooperate together to form a jaw-like cable encircling structure,

said arms when rotated relative to each other to a first position opening said jaw-like structure to receive therein the cable and when rotated relative to each other to a second position closing said jawlike structure to encircle the cable,

at least one of said arms having mounted on it means for probing beneath the wires forming the armor covering of the cable,

means for rotating said device about and along the cable in a given direction when said jaw-like structure is encircling the cable,

said probing means lifting and unwrapping the helically wound wires from the cable as the device is moved about and along the cable.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said arms are pivotally moveable laterally of the cable for receiving the cable in the jaw-like structure.

3. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said arcuate shaped edges together form a cylindrically shaped jaw-like cable encircling structure.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said probing means is mounted on each of said arms for probing beneath the helically wound wires forming the armor covering.

5. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said probing means comprises a detachable mounted blade having a penetrating point. l

6. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said device comprises a pair of ring-shaped members, one on each of said arms, for receiving the hooked end of a pole utilized by a service man for rotating the device about and along the cable.

7. The device set forth in claim 1 in further combination with a pair of arcuate inserts, one mounted with the curvature of each of said arcuate shaped edges of said arms for adapting the device to fit around a given size cable. 1

8. The device set forth in claim 1 in further combination with latching means mounted on one of said arms for engaging the other of said arms for holding said jawcommon plane,

said probing means comprising a plurality of blades mounted at least one on each arcuate shaped edge to extend outwardly of said jaw-like structure in a circular pattern to surround the cable,

each of said blades having a point which cooperates with the points of the other blades to extend below the helically wound wires of the cable to unwind these wires upon rotation and movement of the device along the cable. 

1. A device for stripping helically wound wires forming an armor covering for cables or the like, said device comprising: a pair of hingedly connected arms each having an arcuate shaped edge which cooperate together to form a jaw-like cable encircling structure, said arms when rotated relative to each other to a first position opening said jaW-like structure to receive therein the cable and when rotated relative to each other to a second position closing said jaw-like structure to encircle the cable, at least one of said arms having mounted on it means for probing beneath the wires forming the armor covering of the cable, means for rotating said device about and along the cable in a given direction when said jaw-like structure is encircling the cable, said probing means lifting and unwrapping the helically wound wires from the cable as the device is moved about and along the cable.
 2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said arms are pivotally moveable laterally of the cable for receiving the cable in the jaw-like structure.
 3. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said arcuate shaped edges together form a cylindrically shaped jaw-like cable encircling structure.
 4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said probing means is mounted on each of said arms for probing beneath the helically wound wires forming the armor covering.
 5. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said probing means comprises a detachable mounted blade having a penetrating point.
 6. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said device comprises a pair of ring-shaped members, one on each of said arms, for receiving the hooked end of a pole utilized by a service man for rotating the device about and along the cable.
 7. The device set forth in claim 1 in further combination with a pair of arcuate inserts, one mounted with the curvature of each of said arcuate shaped edges of said arms for adapting the device to fit around a given size cable.
 8. The device set forth in claim 1 in further combination with latching means mounted on one of said arms for engaging the other of said arms for holding said jaw-like structure closed when said device encircles the cable.
 9. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said arms are hingedly connected together at a point adjacent said arcuate shaped edges.
 10. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said arms comprise generally flat planar surfaces, each having at one end said arcuate shaped edge, and are hingedly connected together to form said cable encircling jaw-like structure, said arms when in cable encircling position lie in a common plane, said probing means comprising a plurality of blades mounted at least one on each arcuate shaped edge to extend outwardly of said jaw-like structure in a circular pattern to surround the cable, each of said blades having a point which cooperates with the points of the other blades to extend below the helically wound wires of the cable to unwind these wires upon rotation and movement of the device along the cable. 